Is there anything more beautiful—more pristine—than a lovely summer sky? Whatever the shade of blue, whether with clouds or without, nothing is more perfect than a bright, heavenly-blue firmament.
These sky blue candlesticks were made outside of Manchester, England, by Pilkington Royal Lancastrian. The company had a very inauspicious start. In 1889, the four Pilkington Brothers began to dig for coal along a new seam in Clifton, Greater Manchester. They found no coal; all they got was clay! At first, they attempted to make bricks, but the "marl" they uncovered was not ideal for that use. The secretary of the coal company happened to know William Burton, a chemist at Josiah Wedgwood, which was a successful, 130-year-old ceramics factory in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Burton (who later joined the company) suggested the brothers try making tiles—which were increasingly popular (and in-high-demand) in Victorian architecture and decoration. Thus began a fruitful period for the Pilkington Brothers. In 1893, they began to make architectural tiles. In 1897, they started producing art ware: vases, bowls, lamps and candlesticks (like those shown above).
The company made art wares for a short four decades. They did, however, hire many notable artists including Charles Voysey, Walter Crane, Gordon Forsythe, Richard Joyce, William Mycock and Edward Thomas Radford. The chemist, William Burton, attracted such talent to Pilkington because of his cutting-edge knowledge of glazes and the pioneering advancements in glaze production he offered the ceramicists. Pilkingtons managed to survive World War One, despite suffering a much-depleted staff who left to fight. In 1938, as England prepared to enter World War Two, the company discontinued its art ware lines—choosing to focus on tile production only.
The candleholders, shown above, were made in the Twenties or Thirties. They have a handsome, oh-so-British "Soft Deco" style. But it is the gentle, dappled blue and white glazing which makes these candleholders heavenly. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.